Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorPeer, Shazia
dc.contributor.authorFagan, Johannes J
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:20:27Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:20:27Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Developing countries have the world's highest prevalence of hearing loss, and hearing screening programmes are scarce. Mobile devices such as smartphones have potential for audiometric testing. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the uHear app using an Apple iPhone as a possible hearing screening tool in the developing world, and to determine accuracy of certain hearing thresholds that could prove useful in early detection of hearing loss for high-risk populations in resource-poor communities. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study design. Participants recruited from the Otolaryngology Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, completed a uHear test in three settings - waiting room (WR), quiet room (QR) and soundproof room (SR). Thresholds were compared with formal audiograms. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were tested (50 ears). The uHear test detected moderate or worse hearing loss (pure-tone average (PTA) >40 dB) accurately with a sensitivity of 100% in all three environments. Specificity was 88% (SR), 73% (QR) and 68% (WR). It was highly accurate in detecting high-frequency hearing loss (2 000, 4 000, 6 000 Hz) in the QR and SR with 'good' and 'very good' kappa values, showing statistical significance (p40 dB). It is highly sensitive for detecting threshold changes at high frequencies, making it reasonably well suited to detect presbycusis and ototoxic hearing loss from HIV, tuberculosis therapy and chemotherapy. Portability and ease of use make it appropriate to use in developing world communities that lack screening programmes.
dc.identifier.apacitationPeer, S., & Fagan, J. J. (2014). Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool. <i>South African Medical Journal</i>, 105(1), 35 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34920en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationPeer, Shazia, and Johannes J Fagan "Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool." <i>South African Medical Journal</i> 105, 1. (2014): 35 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34920en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationPeer, S. & Fagan, J.J. 2014. Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool. <i>South African Medical Journal.</i> 105(1):35 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34920en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2469
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Peer, Shazia AU - Fagan, Johannes J AB - BACKGROUND: Developing countries have the world's highest prevalence of hearing loss, and hearing screening programmes are scarce. Mobile devices such as smartphones have potential for audiometric testing. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the uHear app using an Apple iPhone as a possible hearing screening tool in the developing world, and to determine accuracy of certain hearing thresholds that could prove useful in early detection of hearing loss for high-risk populations in resource-poor communities. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study design. Participants recruited from the Otolaryngology Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, completed a uHear test in three settings - waiting room (WR), quiet room (QR) and soundproof room (SR). Thresholds were compared with formal audiograms. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were tested (50 ears). The uHear test detected moderate or worse hearing loss (pure-tone average (PTA) >40 dB) accurately with a sensitivity of 100% in all three environments. Specificity was 88% (SR), 73% (QR) and 68% (WR). It was highly accurate in detecting high-frequency hearing loss (2 000, 4 000, 6 000 Hz) in the QR and SR with 'good' and 'very good' kappa values, showing statistical significance (p40 dB). It is highly sensitive for detecting threshold changes at high frequencies, making it reasonably well suited to detect presbycusis and ototoxic hearing loss from HIV, tuberculosis therapy and chemotherapy. Portability and ease of use make it appropriate to use in developing world communities that lack screening programmes. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - South African Medical Journal LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2014 SM - 0038-2469 T1 - Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool TI - Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34920 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34920
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationPeer S, Fagan JJ. Hearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool. South African Medical Journal. 2014;105(1):35 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34920.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Otorhinolaryngology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceSouth African Medical Journal
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume105
dc.source.pagination35 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.8338
dc.subject.otherHearing loss
dc.subject.otherDeveloping world
dc.subject.otherScreening
dc.subject.otherOtotoxicity
dc.subject.otherPresbycusis
dc.subject.otherMobile technology
dc.subject.otherSmartphones
dc.subject.otherPortable audiology
dc.subject.otherHIV
dc.subject.otherTB
dc.subject.otherChemotherapy
dc.subject.otherARVs
dc.subject.otherAnti-TB therapy
dc.subject.otherGlobal health
dc.titleHearing loss in the developing world: Evaluating the iPhone mobile device as a screening tool
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
PeerShazia_Hearing_loss_in_2014.pdf
Size:
204.29 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles